Chapter 1 — A Scream in the Kitchen
Why did you touch it?
Clara’s furious voice cut through the bright kitchen.
Young Harper stood crying uncontrollably in front of the ruined pink cake.
The delicate pastel layers were sliced open and smashed.
Thick red filling spilled across the pristine marble island.
Clara stood right over the counter.
She held the empty cardboard cake box in her hands.
Her face was twisted in absolute anger.
I found the girl standing right beside it, Clara demanded loudly.
Did you knock it down?
Harper shook her head while tears streamed down her cheeks.
I didn’t do it, she sobbed.
The front door swung open with a heavy thud.
Samantha walked into the hallway carrying several heavy bags of party supplies.
She stopped dead in her tracks at the sound of the shouting.
The grocery bags slipped from her fingers.
They hit the hardwood floor with a loud crunch.
Samantha rushed past the dining area and into the kitchen.
She immediately pulled the sobbing girl into her protective arms.
What is going on in here? Samantha asked, glaring at Clara over her daughter’s head.
Clara crossed her arms tightly.
She pointed a finger at the ruined dessert on the counter.
She ruined the centerpiece for the entire party.
Samantha looked down at Harper’s tear-filled eyes, refusing to believe the accusations.
She held her daughter closer and turned to inspect the damage.
As Samantha’s gaze shifted downward past the kitchen island, something unusual caught her eye on the floor.
A series of bright pink smudges marked the polished wood.
Samantha crouched down to examine the marks closer.
They were distinct paw prints.
Samantha reached out and gently touched the damp pink frosting stamped onto the grain of the floorboards.
She traced the small trail with her finger, following it away from the island and straight toward the hallway.
The trail continued past the pantry door.
Samantha stood up slowly, keeping her eyes fixed on the path of pink footprints.
She motioned for Clara to stay quiet and stepped out of the kitchen.